High-speed permissive train system and apparatus therefor.



PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

T. H. PATENALL. HIGH.SPEED PERMISSIVE TRAIN SYSTEM AND APPARATUSTHEREFOR.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.-

8 SHBETSSHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

INVIIITOR wrrnesszs Ml ADA/w! PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904,

T. H. PATEN ALL. HIGH SPEED PERMISSIVE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

TRAIN SYS E LIGATION FILE 1.19,

B SHEETS-SHEET 2,

N0 MODEL.

- mum-o M, aA Wzaw WW I WITNESSES flu PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904. T. H.PATENALL.

HIGH SPEED PERMISSIVE TRAIN SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 7

- 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESES PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

T. H. PATENALL. HIGH SPEED PERMISSIVE TRAIN SYSTEM AND APPARATUSTHEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

no MODEL.

WITNESSES INVENTOR T. H. PATENALL.

HIGH SPEED PERMISSIVE TRAIN: SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES WM W PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

' 8SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

T. H. PATENALL. HIGH SPEED PERMISSIVE TRAIN SYSTEM AND APPARATUSTHEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

NO MODEL.

INVENTOR WITNESSES No. 777,972.. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

T. H. PATENALL.

HIGH SPEED PERMISSIVE TRAIN SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. PATENALL, OF VVILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIONSWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVVISSVALE, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATIONOF PENNSYLVANIA.

HIGH-SPEED PERMISSIVE TRAIN SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR- SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 777,972, dated m r 20, 1904.

Application filed September 19,1902. Serial No. 124,022.

T 0 all whom it natty concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. PATENALL, of VVilkinsburg, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulHigh-Speed Permissive Train System and Apparatus Therefor, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammaticviewshowing two staff instruments and the circuit connecting them. Fig.2 is a front elevation, partly broken away, showing the staff instrumentwhich I employ. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line III III of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a rear view of the portion of the mechanism which looks andunlocks the ordinary or absolute staffs and the permissive staff. Fig. 5is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4:.Fig. 6 is a detail view of the portion of the locking-wheel and supportsfor the ordinary or absolute staffs. Fig. 7 is a detail view of thecircuit-changer and its contacts, the casing of the instrument beingbroken away. Figs. 8, 9, and I0 are detail views of the lock-link. Fig.11 is a detail side elevation, on a larger scale, showing the permissiveattachment which I employ, the casing of the instrument being removed.Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the tablet or ticket holding case, showingthe permissive staff in position to unlock the same. Fig. 13 is avertical section on the line XIII XIII of Fig. 12, showing the staff inposition to turn the locking-socket. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional viewshowing the locking-socket and Fig. 15 is a detail crosssection of thelocking socket, showing its locking-rim. Fig. 16 is across-sectionalview on the line XVI XVI of Fig. 11, showing theticket-box door open to permit the withdrawal of a ticket or tablet; andFig. 17 is a similar section showing one of the tickets or tabletspartially removed and the permissive-staff socket locked againstrotation to prevent the changing of circuits.

My invention relates to a high-speed trainstaif system and apparatustherefor, which is employed for the facilitating of the safe operatingof trains at high speed on railways and is particularly adapted tosingle-track railways.

The object of my invention is to provide a I permissive system in atrain-stafi apparatus, whereby after the apparatus has been locked bythe withdrawal of the staff or operatingpiece additional train movementsmay be made in the same direction without interfering with the originalblocking operation; and it consists in the addition to the apparatusdescribed by me in a former application, Serial No. 101,716, filed April7, 1902, in the Patent Office, of a staff or other operatingpiece whichis supplemental to the ordinary staff used for despatching single trainsin one direction, electrical connections controlled by the movement ofthis staff, and tablets which are locked in theinstrument until releasedby this supplemental or permissive staff.

In the drawings I illustrate the apparatus which I employ in carryingout my highspeed permissive-train-staff system.

As introductory to the description of the permissive feature of thisapparatus, which constitutes the principal part of this invention, Iwill now describe that portion of the apparatus which is used inconnection with the movement of a single train in one direction beforedescribing the permissive attachment which I employ.

In the drawings, 2 represents the main frame or casing of theinstrument.

3 is the base-plate upon which the operative mechanism is supported.

4 is the back plate of the casing, which is removably secured to thebase 3 and the side portions of the casing 2.

5, 6, and 7 are socket-supporting standards. the standard 5 beingnearest the front of the machine and forming a support for all of thestaff-sockets. The middle standard 6 serves as the end support for theshort-staff sockets, and the standard 7 forms the end support for thelong-staff sockets. Mounted in the supports 5 and 7 and also in thefront of the casing 2 and the rear cover-plate A is a central shaft orspindle 8, provided at its front end with a knob 9, rigidly securedthereto. At a point intermediate of the standards 5 and 6 asocket-locking wheel 10 is rigidly secured, and between the standards 6and 7 I secure another socket-locking wheel, 11, to which is attached aratchet-wheel l2. Near the rear end of the shaft 8 and adjacent to therear cover-plate 4 I secure a cam-wheel 13, which is provided with aperipheral cam-groovearranged to operate a circuit-changer 14. Thestandard 5 is provided with holes 15, which receive the escutcheons 16,and these escutcheons form the front bearing for the sockets 17, whichextend between the standards 5 and 6 and 5 and 7. By changing the sizeof the bore of the sockets 17 and changing the external diameter of thestaffs I am enabled without any other changes in the instrument to adaptit to any desired size of staff which is required in order to permit thedesired speed of the trains to be maintained.

The rear end of the sockets 17 are supported by a plug 18, which fitstightly within the bore of the socket and is secured thereto by asuitable screw. These plugs extend beyond the socket and through holes19 and 20 in the standards 6 and 7, respectively. The plugs 18 areprovided with a central projection 21, which is preferably formedintegrally with the plug, and this projection engages with thecorresponding notch in the end of the staff 22 when the staff is in itsplace in the instrument. The external portion of the staffsocket 17 isprovided with dished portions 23, which are preferably somewhat concaveand fit the periphery of the locking-wheels 10 and 11. The dishedportion 23 of the staffsocket, which is adjacent to the lockingwheel,prevents the socket 17 from being turned except when the locking-wheelis in the proper position to allow it to be done. In order to limit theamount of rotation which may be given to the staff-socket, I provideupon the standards 6 and 7 stops 24 and 25, and the rear end of thestaff-socket is provided with a projection 26, which is arranged so asto engage one or the other of the stops 24 and 25, according to theposition of the socket. At an intermediate point on the exterior of thesocket 17 I form a cam-shaped projection 27, which serves as a lock toprevent the locking-wheels from being turned backwardly except when thestaff is in the socket and the socket is turned to lock the staff in theinstrument. In the periphery of the locking-wheels 10 and 11 I form adished portion 28, which is preferably a little larger than the diameterof the cylindrical portion of the staff-socket. At this point a slot 29is cut through the periphery of the lockingwheels, and a spring-pressedblock 30 is inserted in the slot, and its outer face is curved inconformity to the radius of the lockingwheel. This block 30 is preventedfrom going beyond its proper position by-a pin 31, which engages a slot32, formed in the block. This block is backed by a spring 33, whichnormally holds it in the position shown in Fig. 6; but when the socketis turned the block 30 moves inwardly against the action of the springand permits the cylindrical portion of the staff-socket 17 to enter thedepression 28 in the periphery of the lockingwheel. The spring 33 issupported by a suitable bracket 34, secured to the inner portion of therim of the locking-wheels 10 and 11.

The staffs which I employ for any pair of instruments which are designedto be operated in conjunction with each other are exact counterparts.The outer end portion of the staff 22 is preferably knurled. Thisknurled portion serves as a grip for the hand to enable the staff andits socket to be easily turned in the ordinary operation of theinstrument. At an intermediate point a transverse groove 36 is cut,which extends, preferably, a little more than half-way around the bodyof the staff. This transverse groove connects at one end with alongitudinal groove 37, which extends from the transverse groove to theend of the stafl. The inner end of the staff is provided with a notch38, which is adapted to engage the projections 21 on the staff-socketplugs 18. By simply changing the relative position of the notch 38 tothe longitudinal groove 37 I am enabled to produce a large variety oflocking combinations, the socket-plugs 18 being placed in the sockets insuch a manner that the projections 21 will correspond to the particularset of staffs intended for any pair of instruments. The longitudinalgroove 37 and the transverse groove 36 are always out in the samerelative positions.

By making the staff-socket plugs long or short, according to thedistance between the standards 5 and 6 and 5 and 7, the latter beingshown in the drawings as long socketplugs and the former as short ones,the projections 21 on these plugs are brought into the same verticalplane, and I am thereby enabled to use staffs having standard transverseand longitudinal grooves. The front bearing for each of thestaff-sockets 17 is formed by an escutcheon 16, which is provided with atongue 39, which engages the longitudinal groove 37 in the staff as thestaff is being inserted or withdrawn, and this tongue serves as lock toprevent the withdrawal of the staff from the instrument when it isturned so as to bring the wall of the transverse groove into engagementwith the tongue 39, the position of the staff-socket 17 being such thatit cannot be turned so as to bring the longitudinal groove 37 oppositeto the tongue 39 except when the locking-wheel, with its depression, isopposite the socket, so as to permit it to be rotated.

A spindle 4O isloosely mounted in the standards 5 and 7 and the rearcover-plate 1. The

body portion 41 of the spindle is slightly larger than the end portions,and a socket 42 is formed in the rear of the standard 5 to enable thisenlarged portion 41 to be moved endwise by the operator pulling the knob43 outwardly against the action of the spring 44. A torsion-spring 45 issecured to the spindle 41 at one end and to the standard 5 at the other.A lockingdisk 46 is secured to the standard 7 and is provided with anotch 47, which receives a key 48 when the spindle is in its normalposition; The locking-disk 46 is provided with a suitable stop 49, whichlimits the backward movement of the spindle and presents the key 48 inregistry with the notch 47 when the spindle 41 is in normal position,the forward movement of the spindle being limited by a mechanism whichwill be hereinafter described. At a point rearwardly from the spring 44is secured a crank-arm 50, and to the outer end of this arm a link 51 isloosely connected. The opposite end of this link isconnected in asimilar manner with a rocking lever 52, mounte-d upon a pin 53, which issupported in a slot 54, formed in a bracket 55, which is secured to thestandard 7. The other end of the rocking lever 52 is pivotally connectedto a link 56, which at its other end is connected to the armature-lever57, this lever being pivotally supported by a bracket 58, which is alsosecured to the standard 7. The armature-lever 57 is provided with thearmature 59, which after being placed up to the pole-pieces of themagnets 60 and.61 is retained there when the aforesaid magnets areenergized.

The lock-link 62 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the pin 53and at its upper end is guided by the slot 63, which engages a pin orroller 64 upon the crank-arm 65 of the permissive spindle 66, which issupported in the standard 7 at its rear end and at its front end in thestandard 5. This spindle is provided with a suitable knob 67, by whichit is rotated to change the position of the locklink 62. The lock-link62 is provided with a projection 68, having a recess 69 open at one endadapted to receive a pin or roller 70 upon the crank-arm 71, secured tothe shaft 72, which carries the locking-pawl 73, the pawl 73 engagingwith the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 12. The opposite side of theprojection 68 is provided with a recessed portion 74, which is adaptedto receive a pin or roller 75, secured to the end of the permissivelocking-bar 76 when the lock-link 62 is turned upon the pin 53 in thedirection of the arrow shown in'Fig. 4. The permissive locking-bar 76 isprovided with a notch 77, which when in its raised position registerswith the socket 78 of the permissive staff 79. When in the positionshown in Fig. 4, the flattened portion 80 of the permissive-stafi'socket engages the bar 76 and prevents the socket from being turned.

\Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the ordinary orabsolute staff mechside of the lock-link 62.

anism is in a position to be released. 'hen it be desired to operate thepermissive mechanism, the permissive spindle 66 is rotated so as tobring the recess 74 on the projection 68 into engagement with the pin 75on the locking-bar and at the same time disengaging the roller 70 fromthe recess 69 on the opposite If the spindle be pulled out and the key48 disengaged from the locking-disk 46 and the spindle be rotatedclockwise, this movement will depress the crank-arm 50 and through thelink connection 51 will depress the rocking lever 52 upon the pin 53 asits fulcrum and will elevate the opposite end of the lever 52 andthrough the link connection 56 raise the armature 59 up to thepole-pieces of the magnets 60 and 61 through the medium of thearmature-lever 57. If the current is flowing through the magnets 60 and61, of a proper polarity, the magnets will be energized and the armature59 will be held up. The link 56 where it is pivotally connected to thelever 52 forms a fulcrum for this lever, by the movement of which thelocking-pawl 73 is disengaged from the ratchet-wheel 12, this movementbeing accomplished by releasing the spindle 40, which under the actionof the torsion-spring will be rotated counterclockwise and in so doingwill lift the link 51, which is connected to the crank-arm on thespindle, and as the link is connected to the opposite end of the lever52 from that with which the link 56, just described, is connected willlift the lever 52 and cause the pin 53, upon which the link 62 ispivoted, to move upwardly in the slot in the bracket upon the pivotalconnection with the link 56 as a new fulcrum. This upward movement ofthe link acting upon the crank-arm 71 will cause the rock-shaft 72 torotate and lift the pawl 73 in its bearing sufficient to disengage thehooked portion of the pawl from the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 12. Atthe same time that the hooked portion of the pawl 73 is disengaged thetail portion 73 of the pawl is depressed, so as to engage a tooth of theratchet-wheel 12, thereby forcing the hooked portion of the pawl intothe next succeeding tooth, so that when the ratchet-wheel 12 is moved soas to bring one of the locking-wheels into such a position that thenextsucceeding staff-socket may be turned, as previously described, thestaff in this socket may be removed. The spindle 40 having returned toits normal locked position by the action of the torsional spring 45 andthe compression-spring 44, the key48 enters the notch 47 and is held bythenotch in the lockingdisk 48 in such a way as to prevent the spin dle40 from turning. The crank-arm 50, which is keyed to the spindle 40, isheld against rotation by the key 48, and the link 51, which is pivotallyattached to the crank-arm 50, serves at its lower end, where it isattached to the locking-lever 52, as a new fulcrum for said lever, sothat as the ratchet-wheel 12 is ITS rotated and the teeth engage thetailpiece 73 of the pawl 73 this engagement of the tailpiece causes theshaft 72 to turn in its bearing, and thereby depress the crank-arm 71,whichis rigidly secured to the shaft 72. The

- link 62, which connects the crank-arm 71 to the pin 53 of the rockinglever 52, forces said rocking lever downwardly until the pin 53 reachesthe lower end of the slot 54, and at the same time the link 56 movesdownwardly and forces the armature-lever 57, which supports the armature59, away from the polepieces of the magnets 60 and 61, thereby breakingthe electrical circuits. This movement of the ratchet-wheel 12, which isaccomplished by rotating the shaft 8, on which it is mounted, at thesame time turns the camwheel 13 and operates the circuit-changer 14,which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 81, secured to the base-plate 2of the instrument. One end of this circuit-changer is provided with anantifriction-roller 82, which engages the cam-groove 83 on the cam-wheel13, and as the roller is acted upon by the groove the circuit-changer ismoved up or down as the groove in the cam-wheel moves the roller. Whenthe permissive part of the apparatus is to be unlocked, the position ofthe lock-link being changed, the pawl 73 is unaffected by the release ofthe preliminary spindle, and the locking-bar 76 is raised into positionto bring the notch 69 into position to allow the permissive-staff socketto be turned.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the contact-strips 84: and 85 are insulatedfrom each other and from the long arm of the circuit-changer 14: by apiece of insulating material 86. These contact-strips 84; and 85 engagesuitable spring contact-fingers 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, and 92. Thecontact-fingers 87 and 90 are provided with two contact-points. Thefingers 88 and 91 are provided with a single contact-point at the upperend and in line with the upper contactpoints of the springs 87 and 90.The contact-fingers 89 and 92 are shorter than the others and areprovided with a single contact, which is in line with the lowercontactpoints on the springs 87 and 90. It willthus be seen that thesprings 87 and 90 have contacts which are common to both of the othersets of springs and that the contact-strips 84 and 85 close the circuitsbetween springs 87 and 88 and 90 and 91, respectively, when thecircuit-changer is in its upper position, and between thecontact-fingers 87 and 89, 90, and 92, respectively, when thecircuit-changer is in its lower position.

A pair of spring-fingers 93 and 94. are secured to the armature-lever57, and these fingers are insulated therefrom. They are provided withsuitable binding screws or connections for the wires,which form a partof the main and local circuits hereinafter described. These lingers 93and 94: are suitably tipped, so as to form contact-points at their end,and

when the armature-lever is in its lower or normal position the finger 93rests against-a suitably-insulated stop and in contact with aspringfinger 95, which is properly insulated from itssupporting-bracket, and this spring is provided with suitable bindingpost or screw, to which one of the wires forming a part of abell-circuit, hereinafter described, is connected.

A pair of contact-springs 96 and 97 are secured to the magnet-spectaclefor the magnets 60 and 61 and are suitably insulated therefrom by asuitable bushing 96. These contact-springs 96 and 97 are brought intocontact with the spring-fingers 93 and 94:, when the armature-lever 57,carrying the armature 59, is raised up to the pole-pieces of the magnets60 and 61 by the mechanism previously described. The circuit thusestablished closes the circuits at this point on the line-coil and thelocal coil.

Between the contact-spring 97 and the local coil 60 is placedaresistance-coil 98. This resistance 98 is inserted .in the localcircuit for the purpose of making the point of attraction at the centralpoint of the magnets and armature and is proportioned according to thelength of the line between the train-staff stations. The armature 59 isweighted to such an extent that the combined energy of the magnets 60and 61 is necessary in order to hold it in raised position. The magnetsare independent of each other so far as the electrical circuits of whichthey form a part are concerned. The cores 99 and 100 of the magnets 60and 61 are connected at their upper and lower ends by straps 101 and 102at the front and back ends of the magnets, respectively. A rectangularpole-piece 103 is secured to the upper back strap 102 by suitable screws104: and coacts with a projecting piece on the front strap 101, so thatthe lower end of the polepiece 103 and of the projecting portion of thestrap 101 are flush with each other and form the pole-pieces common toboth magnets 60 and 61. The pole-pieces thus formed constitute a stopwhich limits the movement of the armature and at the same time forms thepoints at which the armature is held when the magnets are energized.These magnets 60 and 61 are wound exactly alike, and when both areenergized by a current of the same polarity as the current flows out ofeach the current of one magnet opposes the current of the other andmeeting at a central point of their common pole-piece 103 the combinedenergy of the magnets attracts the armature 59 when raised and holds itin its raised position. If the polarity of the magnets 60 and 61 bedifferent, due to the change of polarity in the main circuit, thecurrents passing through the magnets 60 and 61 will not oppose eachother, but will flow in a closed circuit through the magnets and acrossthe strips 101 and 102; but when it flows in a closed circuit theattractive power of the magnets is destroyed to such an extent that theweight of the armature will cause it to fall away when released by theoperator. The magnets 60 and 61 in addition to being supported by thespectacle are further supported by a bracket 105, secured to thestandard 7.

Secured to the base 2 of the instrument by suitable brackets andsupports is a push-key 106 of well-known construction anddiagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the upper portion of the casing 3 is a dial-plate 107, which isprovided with a pair of indicating-needles 108 and 109. These needlesare mounted upon rock-shafts 110 and 111, respectively, and the lowerneedle 108 indicates, if it moves to the right, that the circuit isclosed and the current flowing. This needle is operated by a magnet 112,which is of ordinary construction, except that the polepieees areextended so as to permit the armature 113 to swing transversely betweenthem, the armature being pivoted upon a pin 114, which is mounted in thespectacle at one end, and in a brass strip 115, connecting the end ofthe pole-pieces. The lower end of the finger 116, which is secured tothe armature 113, is provided with a slot 117, which engages a pin 118,secured to the rock-shaft in such a manner that when the armature isattracted the needle 108 will be moved by the engagement of the pin 118with the finger 116,which is attached to the armature. The upper needle109, whichis mounted upon the rock-shaft 111, is provided with a pin119, which engages a slot 120 in an extension 121 of the armature 122,which is polarized by the permanent magnet 123 through induction. Thisarmature is pivoted upon a suitable pin 124, supported on the permanentmagnet at one end and in a bracket 125, secured to the spectacle of themagnet 126. The needle 109, controlled by the polarized armature ofmagnet 126, indicates when the staff is in or out and when in theposition shown in the drawings shows that it is in the instrument, inthe manner hereinafter described.

The permissive staff 79 and its socket 78 cannot be turned in order torelease the staff from the instrument until the locking-bar 76 has beenraised so as to bring the notch 77 into such a position that the notchregisters with the staff-socket and affords the necessary clearance forthe socket to rotate. If the staff and socket be rotated. to unlock thestaff, the groove 127 is carried from its lower position to its upperposition, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, and when the staff is withdrawnfrom the socket it is inserted through the escutcheon 128, which isprovided with a tongue 129, which engages a groove 130 in the staff 79.

The front end of the stafi is provided with a notch 131, which engages aprojection 132 on the plug 133, which is rigidly secured to alocking-socket134, which is supported in suitable bearings 135, formedat one side of the tabletbox 136. This box is provided with a door 137,pivoted at its lower side to the box 136, and is provided at one sidewith a finger or lookingsegment 138, which has a notch 139, which whenthe door is closed receives the locking-rim of the locking-socket 134,as shown in Fig. 12. The box 136 is provided with a receptacle havinggrooves for the reception of the tablets 141, and when the tablets arein the receptacle their lower edges engage with the rollers 142, mountedupon rocking levers 143, which are provided with a locking-detent 144 attheir forward end, and the opposite end is provided with a hook 145, towhich is secured one end of a coil-spring 146, the other end of which isattached to the box at 147. If the door be unlocked by the turning ofthe locking-socket 134, so as to disengage the rim 140 from the notch139, the door will drop, and the tablets may then be withdrawn, and assoon as one of the tablets is withdrawn sufficient to free the roller142 the spring 146, acting upon the lever 143, will depress the detent144 and engage the groove 127 in the permissive-staff socket 78, therebypreventing this staff-socket from being rotated until all the tabletshave been returned to the box and the box locked. The permissive staff,which is withdrawn from the locking-socket of the tablet-box, will notfit to operate any of the ordinary staff-sockets, and none of theordinary staffs are capable of operating the permissive-staff socket orof unlocking theWablet-box, the grooves and notches in the staffs andthe corresponding plugs being differently disposed with respect to eachother.

The permissive-staff socket is provided,

preferably at its rear end, with a circuitchanger, which consists of aninsulated barrel 148, provided with contact-strips 149 and 150 onopposite sides of the barrel and insulated from each other, thecontact-strip 149 making contact with contact-springs 151 and 152 whenthe parts are in the position shown in Fig. 11, the contact-spring 153resting upon the insulation. The contact-springs 154 and 155 upon theopposite side of the insulated barrel are in contact with thecontact-strip 150, and the contact-spring 156 rests against theinsulation. hen the parts are in the normal or locked position, thespring contactfingers 152 and 153 are in contact with the strip 150, andthe contact-springs 155 and 156 are in contact with the strip 149, thecontactsprings 154 and 156 resting upon the insulation.

The instrument at station X, in which the permissive staff is, has itscontact-pieces 149 and 150 so located with respect to the lockinggrooveof the staff-socket that the position of the contactstrips correspondswith the position of the contact-strips 149 and 150 at station Y, exceptthat the grooves in the permissive-staff socket at this station areoppositely located, the permissive-staif socket at station Y being emptyand the locking-levers 143 being in engagement with the groove 127.

I will now describe the circuits I employ and by which the staffinstruments at stalfstations are connected, so as to work in conjunctionwith each other.

Referring to the diagram Fig. 1 of the drawings, X and Y represent twostaff instruments, which are connected by the line-wires A B and arecounterparts of each other, and the parts at station Y, which correspondto those at station X, are designated by the prime-mark. At station X iskey 106 of ordinary construction and having the usual spring by whichthe circuit is closed or broken. a and Z) are the front and backcontacts, and the push-key 106 is provided with aline-spring 0, by whichcircuit is closed at the contactpoints a and 6. Connection between Y andX is established by the following circuits: Starting at battery d, whichserves as a main and local battery at station X, a wire 0 leads from thepositive side of said battery to the front contact-point a, and bypressing the spring 0 against the contact a the current will then flowout through the wire f and through the magnets of the lower indicator108, thence through the wire g and spring 88, which makes contact withstrip 8 1, which is also in contact with spring 87, and thence throughwire it, thence through contact-springs 154 153, contact-strip 150 tocontact-spring 152, thence continuing on wire it to a suitablelightningarrester i, from which leads the line-wire B, through which thecurrent flows to a corresponding lightning-arrester t" at station Y, andthence through wire h to contact-spring 152, contact strip 150, thenceto contactsprings 153 and 154, continuing on wire 7t, spring 87 andcontact-strip 84, thence through spring 88 and wire 9, through themagnets of the lower indicator 108,and thence through the wire f toline-spring 0, thence to the contact I), from which leads the wire j.which is connected to the magnets of the upper indicator 109, thencethrough the wire 7r to a wire Z, carried by the armature-lever 57, towhich is attached a spring 98, which makes contact with point 95. Thecurrent then passes to the bell m, energizing magnets for the same,thence through wire at to spring 91, through contact-strip 85 and spring90,-

from which spring the wire 0 leads to the lightning-arrester 2", andfrom the lightningarrester c" the current flows through the linewire Ato the corresponding lightning-arrester e'at station X, and thencethrough the wire 0, contact-spring 90 and strip 85, thence through thespring 91, which is connected by wire a to the negative side of battery(Z. The operator at X pushes the push-key 106 the required number oftimes to inform the operator at Y that he desires to withdraw a stafffrom his instrument. The operator at Y responds with therequisite numberof im-' pulses by pressing his push-key 106 and on the last impulseholds the circuit closed until he gets notification from X that thestaff is withdrawn in a manner which will be described hereinafter. Assoon as the operator at X receives the last impulse he immedi-' atelycloses the clrcuit on the main-line coil 61, at the same time closingthe local circuit on the coil 60. Under these conditions the instrumentcan be operated and a staff withdrawn, and the following is adescription of the circuits which are established permitting this to bedone: Starting from the battery (1 at station Y, the current flowsthrough wire 0, contact a, the line-spring c, and the wire f, thencethrough the lower indicator-magnets 108, thence through the wire g tothe spring 88, vhich contacts with the strip 8 1,

this strip making contact with the spring 87,

which is connected to wire it, thence through contact-springs 154 153,contact-strip 150, and thence through contact-spring 152 and throughwire 7t, thence through the light ning-arrester 71, the current flowingfrom the lightning-arrester 7) through the line-wire B to station Xthrough the corresponding light ning-arrester 2', thence through thewire it, thence through contact-spring 152, contactpiece 150,contact-springs 153 154, thence through wire 7b, the contact-spring 87the contact-strip 8 1, the spring 88, which is in contact therewith, andwire mthence through the magnet of the lower indicator 108, and fromthis indicator through the wire f to the line-spring 0, contact Z), wire1', and thence to the magnets of the upper indicator 109. From thisindicator the wire leads along a wire Z, attached to armature 57, thiswire being connected to a spring 93, secured thereto and insulatedtherefrom, the spring making contact with point 96, which is connectedby a wire p with the main coil 61. The current then flows through themagnet, energizing the same, thence out through wire (1, which isconnected to a binding-post 7", which is also connected to wire 77/,thence through wire a to contact-spring 91, through the contactstrip andspring 90, which is connected by wire 0 to the lightning-arrester 2'.From this point the main-line wire A carries the current to station Yand through lightning-arrester 1 thence through wire 0 to contact-springthrough the contact-strip 85 and the contact-spring 91', to which issecured the wire, n, which leads to the positive side of battery cl. Thelocal circuit at X, established simultaneously with the main circuitjust described, is as follows: Starting at the positive side of batterycl, the current will flow through wire 8 to the spring 9 1, thence tothe point 97 through the resistance 98 to the binding-post 2,,

I through the wire w to the binding-post r, from Ice which leads thewire w to the binding-post e, from which the wire leads to the negativeside of battery (Z. Both the main-line magnet 61 and the local magnetare now energized and hold up the armature 59, carrying thecontact-springs 93 and 94 in contact with points 96 and 97, maintainingthe main and local circuits. This arrangement of main and local circuitscauses the current to flow from the battery through the magnet of thelocal circuit always in one direction and to flow through the magnet ofthe main circuit in a direction which is determined by the position ofthe contact-strips 84 and 85 of the circuitchanger 14 with reference tothe contactsprings 88 to 92, inclusive, which engage the strips, and theposition of the circuit-changer is dependent upon whether a staff isreleased or locked. The act of unlocking a staff, so as to permit it tobe withdrawn from the instrument, shifts the contact-strips 8 1 and 85of the circuit-changer 14 into the position shown by dotted lines inFig. 1. This change in the position of the contact-strips 84 and 85 ontothe lower set of contacts formed on springs 87, 88, 89, and 92 reversesthe current flowing from battery (Z at station X to station Y, and alsoreverses the current from battery cl coming into station X from stationY, thus preventing either set of magnets 60 61 or 60 61 from beingenergized sufficiently to hold up the armature 59 59, thus preventinganother staff from being taken out until the staff previously taken outhas been replaced in one or the other instrument by either operatorunder the normal conditions of operation of the system, and if thisstaff be taken to station Y and inserted in this instrument, lockedtherein, this act will shift the contact-strips 8 1 and 85 into theposition shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, at station Y, and theinstruments at Y and X will then be in a condition to permit anotherstaff to be taken out, when the instrument is used as an absoluteinstrument. If the permissive portion of the instrument is used, inorder to withdraw the permissive staff from the instrument its socketmust be rotated, and this movement changes the position of thecontact-strips 14:9 and 150 into the position shown in dotted lines atstation X. The permissive staff is then used to unlock the tablet-boXand the tablets are taken out, and these tablets, together with thepermissive staff, are sent to the operator at station Y. The shifting ofthe contacts at station X reverses the current flowing from battery (Zat station X to station Y, and also reverses the current from battery (Zcoming into station X from station Y, thus preventing either set ofmagnets 60 61 or 60 61 from being energized to a sufficient extent tohold up the armature 59 59. This prevents another staff from being takenout of either instrument until the permissive staff is returned to itssocket and locked therein or taken to station Y and inserted in thepermissive-staff socket at this in unison, the condition of theinstrument under normal operation of the system being such that an evennumber of staffs used in two cooperating instruments must at all timesbe present in one or the other instrument or the number of staffs inboth must constitute an even number of staffs, this being necessary, asthe system is designed to be so operated; otherwise the electricalcircuits will be rendered inoperative, owing to the fact that thewithdrawal of a staff for single train movements or the permissive staffand tablets controlling a multiplicity of train movements alters theelectrical circuits, and these circuits can be restored to a normalcondition only by reinserting the staff and tablets which have beenremoved in making the train movements.

Having fully described the electrical circuits employed and theoperation of the parts of the instrument in connection with thedescription of theirconstruction, a brief description of the operationof the instruments as a whole will be sufficient to enable my inventionto be readily understood and the manner in which it is used in practice.

In describing the operation of high-speed train-staff system we willsuppose that a section of single track is controlled by it. Twoinstruments are required, one at each end of the section, eachinstrument containing the number of staffs required to operate thetraffic properly. One end of the section we will call X and the other Y.X has a train that he wishes to send forward to Y. X presses thebell-push 106 the prescribed number of times, (called for on bell code,)which rings the bell at Y. Y answers and holds in his bell-push 106,which moves over the lower or current indicator 108 to the right. X,seeing this indicator standing over, at once pulls out and turns to theright the preliminary spindle 10, releases same, (which returnsautomatically to its normal position,) as described, and turnslock-wheel handle 9 to the left, then turns staff 22 to the left andwithdraws same. (The act of turning the lockwheel handle changes thecircuit-controller 1 1, and the upper indicator will move to Staff out.As soon as X has withdrawn the staff he presses in his bell-push, whichwill move the upper indicator 109 at Y to Staff out, at the same timeringing the bell,calling the attention of Y to the fact. The staffhaving been withdrawn is placed in a rubber pouch, (if to be deliveredby hand,) or if to be delivered at speed in a rubber pouch with a steelring attached, and the ring and pouch containing staff is placed in theme- .chanical deliverer, (fixed near the staff-station.) Upon passing Ythe catcher takes the ring, pouch, and staff. Y then takes the ring,pouch, and staff from the catcher and takes out the staff and places thesame in his instrument, turning staff 22 to the right and then turningthe lockwheel handle 9 to the right, which locks the staff in. Then Ypresses in bell-push 109, which notifies X that the train has passed outof section, and upper indicator at 109 moves over to Staff in. X thenacknowledges this by pressing in his bellpush 106, which moves upperindicator 109 at Yto Staff in. Theinstrumentsareagain nor mal, andanother movement can be made from. XtoYorf'rom Y to X. The operators atthe staff-stations use the permissive staff and tab" lets when it isdesired to send more than one train in the same-direction, thepermission to do so and the unlocking of the permissive staff beingaccomplished in the manner already described. The operator at X, forexample, unlocks the tablet-box by using a permissive staff which hasfirst been withdrawn from its socket and placed in a socket provided forit in the tablet-box, and after unlocking the box by turning this socketthe door of the tablet-receptacle opens, and he then gives a tablet tothe first train, one to the second train if it is to be followed by athird, and to the last train to be sent in that direction theren'iaining tablets and the permissive staff are sent to the operator atstation Y, who places them in his instrument, after which theinstruments at stations X and Y are ready to proceed, as before, eitherusing the absolute or permissive system, as traffic demands.

The advantage of providing such instruments with apparatus that permitsthe safe operation of a multiplicity of trains safely in the samedirection without interfering with the block set against trains comingin the opposite direction will be appreciated by those familiar with therequirements for the speedy and safe operation of trains under a staffsystem.

Many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts by theskilled mechanic and electrician without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention, since hat 1 claim is 1. A high-speed permissivetrain-staff system, comprising a call-circuit, main and local circuits,lock-controlling magnets, an armature therefor, a mechanism adapted tolift the armature to the magnet, said armature being held up when saidmagnets are energized, staffs, for single train movements, a permissivestaff for multiple train movements, and locks for both kinds of staffs,controlled by said magnets; substantially as described.

2. A high-speed train-staff system comprising call, main and localcircuits W hich connect instruments distant from each other, saidinstruments having staffs for single train movements and a permissivestaff for permitting a multiplicity of' train movements, a receptaclecontaining devices for successive train movements, a lock for saidreceptacle adapted to be unlocked by the permissive staff, and a lockfor said permissive staff controlled by the locks for the other staffs,said lock and the receptacle-lock being electrically connected, andarranged to form a part of the main and local' circuits, the directionof the currents flowing through said circuits depending upon theinsertion or withdrawal of a staff; substantially as described.

3. A'high-speed train-staff system having electric circuits connectingstaff instruments, said instruments having a tablet-receptacle, apermissive staff, said receptacle being unlocked by said staff, and anelectrically-controlled lock actuated by said electric circuits for saidstaff, and a circuit-changer for said electric circuits, arranged to beoperated by said permissive staff, whereby its electricallycontrolledlock permits or prevents the manipulation of the permissive staff, andthe unlocking of the tablet-receptacle; substantially as described.

t. A high-speed permissive train-staff system, having an electriccircuit, the combination of a staff instrument comprising a plurality ofstaffs controlling single-train movements, and a permissive staffindependent of the other staff arranged to permit amultiplicity ofmovements in the same direction, electrically-controlled locking devicesfor said staffs, and a circuit-changer arranged to be operated when oneof either class of said staffs are withdrawn from the instrument, suchmovement effecting a change in the polarity and path of the currentthereby controlling the locking mechanism for the staffs, permitting orpreventing their manipulation according to the position of thecircuit-changer and the path of the current; substantially as described.

5. Ahigh-speed train-staff instrument, having a permissive staff, a lockfor said staff, and a tablet-receptacle controlled by said permissivestaff; substantially as described.

6. A high-speed train-staff instrument, hav ing a permissive staff, anelectrically-controlled lock for said staflf, a tablet-receptacle and alock therefor, said lock being controlled by said staff; substantiallyas described.

7. A high-speed train-stafi instrument, having a permissive staff, anelectrically-controlled lock for said staff, atablet-receptacle, a locktherefor, said permissive staff unlocking said receptacle, thewithdrawal and manipulation of the permissive staff being controlled byelectric circuits connecting the same with a distantinstrument;substantially as described.

8. Ahigh-speed train-staff instrument, having a permissive staff, a lockfor said staff, a tablet-receptacle, a lock therefor, said staff beingadapted to unlock the tablet-receptacle,

locking mechanism controlled by the tablets arranged to prevent theposition of the permissive-stafi lock from being changed until all thetablets are replaced and the staff Withdrawn from the lock of thetablet-receptacle;

substantially as described.

9. A high-speed train-stall instrument, having a permissive staff, asocket for said staff, a lock for said staff-socket, atablet-receptacle, a lock therefor, said staff being adapted to un lockthe tablet-receptacle, locking mechanism controlled by said tabletsarranged to prevent the position of the permissivestaff-socket lock frombeing changed until all the tablets are replaced and the stafl Withdrawnfrom the lock of the tablet-receptacle; substantially as described.

10. A staff instrument having staffs for single train movements, and apermissive staff permitting a multiplicity of train movements in thesame direction, a tablet-receptacle con- THOMAS H. PATENALL.

Witnesses:

MARQUIS D. HANLON, WALTER P. NEUBERT.

